Portable Exercise Device

ABSTRACT

A weighted dumbbell having a housing  4, 34  with a substantially cylindrical envelope in a first configuration, and convertible into an abdominal roller in a second configuration, the dumbbell including two elongate handles  8  located along an axis of said housing, said handles being lodged within the housing  34  in the first configuration and being slidable in mutually opposite directions along the axis, such that in the second configuration the handles  8  extend outwardly from said housing and the housing  4, 34  is rotatable about the axis with respect to the handles.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multifunctional exercise device. Forconvenience, the device is called a dumbbell herein, as that is one ofits functions.

A known dumbbell consists of a short bar serving as a handle, withweights at the ends of the bar. A wide variety of exercises involvingraising dumbbells can be used to strengthen the arms and upper body.

A known abdominal roller comprises a wheel having two handles extendingaxially from the hub. A user kneels or stands and, supported by holdingthe handles, rolls the roller back and forth to strengthen the abdominalmuscles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a dumbbell with increasedfunctionality.

The invention provides a weighted dumbbell having a housing with asubstantially cylindrical envelope in a first configuration, andconvertible into an abdominal roller in a second configuration, thedumbbell including two elongate handles located along an axis of saidhousing, said handles being lodged within the housing in the firstconfiguration and being slidable in mutually opposite directions alongthe axis, such that in the second configuration the handles extendoutwardly from said housing and the housing is rotatable about the axiswith respect to the handles.

Outward sliding of the elongate handles may be facilitated by springs,e.g. a compression spring mounted within each handle.

In one embodiment, the elongate handles are lockable in the firstconfiguration and releasable therefrom by rotating the elongate handlesabout the axis, such that at least one element on the handle is engagedwith and disengaged from an element that cannot rotate relative to thehousing. The at least one handle element may be constrained to slidewithin a channel in the housing at a first angular position, when theelongate handle is being slid into the handle, the handle element beingrotatable for engagement once the elongate handle is substantiallywithin the housing.

Alternative embodiments employ a pushbutton mechanism, such that pushingeach elongate handle into the housing causes a handle element to latchthe elongate handle in the first configuration, and subsequent pushingof the elongate handles releases the respective handle elements fordeployment of the elongate handles to the second configuration.

Bearings may be provided for rotation of the housing about the axis inthe second configuration. For example, one bearing may be providedadjacent each end of the housing. The bearings may have frustoconicalsurfaces engageable by correspondingly shaped surfaces on the elongatehandles.

In one embodiment, the dumbbell is provided with a dumbbell handle,within the cylindrical envelope, for example formed by a bridge elementsupported radially outwardly from a central core of the dumbbell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of exampleonly, with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a dumbbell according to the invention, in the firstconfiguration;

FIG. 2 shows the dumbbell of FIG. 1, in the second configuration;

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of the dumbbell of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cut-away view showing the interior of the dumbbell of FIGS.1 and 2;

FIG. 5 shows a central cap member of the dumbbell;

FIG. 6 shows an alternative dumbbell according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded view of a further alternative dumbbell;

FIG. 8 shows a detail of components of the dumbbell of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show different weights that can be used in thedumbbell of FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an end cap of the dumbbell of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a dumbbell which may, for example, have a length ofabout 350 mm. The dumbbell is generally cylindrical and is structuredaround a hollow metallic cylinder 2. Dumbbell handles 4 are provided,spaced away from the cylinder 2 and extending parallel to its axis. Thedumbbell includes two cylindrical weights 6, shown in FIG. 4, one bondedto each end of the cylinder 2. These weights may be of metallicmaterial, the exact nature of which is chosen to set the total weight ofthe dumbbell, which may for example be 5 kg or 10 kg.

Two hollow, generally cylindrical extensible handles 8 are provided.FIG. 4 shows the left-hand handle 8 in its extended configuration andthe right-hand handle 8 in its retracted configuration. The outer end 10of each handle 8 is knurled. At the inner end of each handle 8, twore-entrant wings 12 extend at diametrically opposite locations.

Two channel members 14 and a central cap member 16 are fixed within thecylinder 2 to control the movement of the extensible handles 8. Thechannel members 14 are provided with diametrically opposite wingchannels 18 having an internal cross-section corresponding to theexternal cross-section of the wings 12. The channel members are alsoeach provided with two fins 20, located between the wing channels 18 oneach side.

One side of the generally cylindrical cap member 16 is shown in FIG. 5.Four arcuate tabs 22 are provided for engagement between the wingchannels 18 and the fins 20 of the channel member 14. Inside the capmember 16 are two abutments 24.

Compression springs 25 are lodged within the extensible handles 8,bearing against the inside of the cap member 16. The springs 25 have anunstressed length of at least twice the length of the handles 8.

End caps 26 are provided at each end of the cylinder 2. Each end caphouses an angled bearing 28 for the respective extensible handle 8.

Externally, as shown in FIG. 3, the dumbbell handles 4 are provided bytwo handle casings 30 which are bonded and bolted together. These can befinished by foam or rubber treads 32. Outer casings 34 of foamedmaterial are provided around the ends of the cylinder 2.

It will be noted that the components at each end of the dumbbell areidentical, and can therefore be manufactured using the same tools.

With the handles 8 retracted, the dumbbell can be grasped using thedumbbell handles 4 and used for all dumbbell exercises. In thisconfiguration, the wings 12 are lodged behind the fins 20.

In order to extend the handles 8, the user rotates them anti-clockwiseusing the ends 10, until the wings 12 are aligned with the wing channels18. The springs 25 then force the handles outwards to the position shownin FIG. 2. In this configuration, the wings 12 are lodged rotatablybetween the end caps 26 and the bearings 28.

With the handles 8 extended, the dumbbell can be used as an abdominalroller. The user holds the handles 8 and rolls the casings 34 on afloor.

In addition, for example with only one of the handles 8 extended, thedevice can be used as a massage roller. The user, or a masseur, holdsthe extended handle and rolls the body of the device over the user'sbody.

The handles 8 can be pushed back into the body of the dumbbell againstthe action of the springs 25. When the wings 12 reach the cap member 16,the handles 8 are rotated until the wings 12 are stopped by theabutments 24, at which position the wings are lodged behind the fins 20.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative dumbbell, for example having a length of 700mm. In this embodiment, the dumbbell handles 104 are orientedtransversely for a more secure hold. Internally, the dumbbell of FIG. 6is similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 4. However, there are two central capsinstead of the single central cap member 16, one cap facing in eachoutward direction. Between the two central caps is a cylindrical cavitywhich can optionally be used to house an additional weight.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a further alternative dumbbell in whichthe weight of the dumbbell is adjustable.

The dumbbell of FIG. 7 is generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 4.However, its casings 234 are formed with a complex knurled pattern foran enhanced result when using the device as a massage roller. Also, thedumbbell of FIG. 7 has cylindrical bearings 228. In addition, thisdumbbell has no central cap. Instead, a channel member 214 extendsalmost the entire length of the dumbbell. At its midpoint, the channelmember 214 has two slots 236 in its cylindrical surface and in one ofthe re-entrant parts of each of its wing channels 218. As shown in moredetail in FIG. 8, when the handles 208 are fully inserted and rotated,their wings 212 emerge from, and are retained by, the slots 236.

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show interchangeable weights, 238, 240 and 242respectively, pairs of which can be inserted into the dumbbell of FIG.7, one weight at each end. As shown, the amount of material in eachannular weight can be varied by forming cavities of different sizeswithin the weights, without changing the outer shape of the weights. Inthis manner, the weights can be made of the same metallic material. Forexample, weights 238 can be set of the weight of the dumbbell at 5 kg,weights 240 at 3 kg and weights 242 at 4 kg. In one example, thedifferent weights are coloured differently in order to distinguish themfrom each other.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show how the interchangeable weight, e.g. 238, isretained within the casings 234. The weights 238 is placed around abearing cap 244, which has angularly spaced catches 246. An end cap 248has abutments (not shown) at the same angular spacing as the catches246. The end cap 248 is placed over the bearing cap 244 and rotatedclockwise, engaging the abutments with the catches 246 to retain the endcap 248 on the dumbbell and retain the weight 238 in place.

Additionally or alternatively, the weights and the metallic cylindercould include respective interengageable formations for retaining theweights on the cylinder.

Optionally, a transparent window can be formed in the handle, or the endcap can be made transparent, so that the colour of the weight inside thecasing of the dumbbell can be seen without removing the end cap.

The device of the invention has at least six functions. As describedabove, it can be used as a dumbbell, an abdominal roller and a massageroller. With the handles extended, it can also be used as a barbell.With the handles retracted, it can be used as a kettlebell. It can alsobe used as a stability device when performing exercises such as the“plank”.

1. A weighted dumbbell having a housing with a substantially cylindricalenvelope in a first configuration, and convertible into an abdominalroller in a second configuration, the dumbbell including two elongatehandles located along an axis of said housing, said handles being lodgedwithin the housing in the first configuration and being slidable inmutually opposite directions along the axis, such that in the secondconfiguration the handles extend outwardly from said housing and thehousing is rotatable about the axis with respect to the handles.
 2. Adumbbell according to claim 1, wherein outward sliding of the elongatehandles is facilitated by springs.
 3. A dumbbell according to claim 2,wherein a compression spring is mounted within each elongate handle. 4.A dumbbell according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the elongate handlesare lockable in the first configuration and releasable therefrom byrotating the elongate handles about the axis, such that at least oneelement on the handle is engaged with and disengaged from an elementthat cannot rotate relative to the housing.
 5. A dumbbell according toclaim 4, wherein the at least one handle element is constrained to slidewithin a channel in the housing at a first angular position, when theelongate handle is being slid into the handle, the handle element beingrotatable for engagement once the elongate handle is substantiallywithin the housing.
 6. A dumbbell according to claim 1, 2 or 3,comprising a pushbutton mechanism, such that pushing each elongatehandle into the housing causes a handle element to latch the elongatehandle in the first configuration, and subsequent pushing of theelongate handles releases the respective handle elements for deploymentof the elongate handles to the second configuration.
 7. A dumbbellaccording to claim 1, including bearings for rotation of the housingabout the axis in the second configuration.
 8. A dumbbell according toclaim 7, wherein one bearing is provided adjacent each end of thehousing.
 9. A dumbbell according to claim 8, wherein the bearings havefrustoconical surfaces engageable by correspondingly shaped surfaces onthe elongate handles.
 10. A dumbbell according to claim 1, including atleast one dumbbell handle, within the cylindrical envelope.
 11. Adumbbell according to claim 10, wherein the at least one dumbbell handleis formed by a bridge element supported radially outwardly from acentral core of the dumbbell.
 12. A dumbbell according to claim 1,wherein the weight of the dumbbell is adjustable.
 13. A dumbbellaccording to claim 12, including first and second pairs of annularweights that can be inserted into and removed from positions surroundingthe handles, the weights all having equal external diameters.
 14. Adumbbell according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the weights canbe viewed from the outside of the dumbbell when the weight is in placein the dumbbell.
 15. A dumbbell according to claim 12, wherein at leastone of the weights can be viewed from the outside of the dumbbell whenthe weight is in place in the dumbbell.
 16. A dumbbell according toclaim 7, wherein the bearings have frustoconical surfaces engageable bycorrespondingly shaped surfaces on the elongate handles.
 17. A dumbbellaccording to claim 1, wherein the elongate handles are lockable in thefirst configuration and releasable therefrom by rotating the elongatehandles about the axis, such that at least one element on the handle isengaged with and disengaged from an element that cannot rotate relativeto the housing.
 18. A dumbbell according to claim 17, wherein the atleast one handle element is constrained to slide within a channel in thehousing at a first angular position, when the elongate handle is beingslid into the handle, the handle element being rotatable for engagementonce the elongate handle is substantially within the housing.
 19. Adumbbell according to claim 1, comprising a pushbutton mechanism, suchthat pushing each elongate handle into the housing causes a handleelement to latch the elongate handle in the first configuration, andsubsequent pushing of the elongate handles releases the respectivehandle elements for deployment of the elongate handles to the secondconfiguration.